Small island mouths are hungry
For whatever small scrap
To eat and repeat
Small island mouths don’t care
Where the words came from
Or who formed them
Small island mouths like the taste
Of gossip and the feel of rumours
Tongue-lashed in spit
Small island mouths love to share
With small island ears
Over a cup of babble tea
Small island mouths daintily wipe
Their lips in satisfaction
Feeling full-filled
Excellent Dear Vanessa, You are a chip off you Mom’s writing block. Love, Melinda
Love this, Nessie! Such an astute portrayal of gossips in a small community. I’d love to teach this poem to my students. I anxiously await more – publish!